Process of topping



Jan. 30, 1940, G. H. DIETRICH Er AL PROCESS OF TOPPING Filed Feb. 28, 1938 IN VENTORS GwfaatierZe/Lfiikvb fim wk 1 14 m a r mi 4 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 30, 1940 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS OF TOPPING Gustav Herbert Dietrich, Meinersdorf in Erzgebirge, Arnold Verbeek, Wustenbrand in Saxony, and Erich Eissner, Chemnitz, Germany, assignors to Kalio, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application February 28, 1938, Serial No. 192,970 In Germany March 4, 1937 11 Claims.

. Tfhe'present invention relates to a process or method of topping and, more particularly, to a process or method of placing knitted fabric made on a knitting machine on the topping point sections so that said fabric may subsequently be transferred to the needles of another knitting machine as, for instance, topping a heelless combination leg and foot full-fashioned stocking. blank onto the points of a special topping stand having pairs of relatively movable topping point sections (as shown and described in co-pending application, Serial Number 99,830, filed September 8, 1936, in the name of Arnold Verbeek), for thereafter transferring the fabric vto the needles of a heeling machine operable to knit heel tabs into said blank.

The topping of the fabric in the manner described in the co-pending application above identified has been found difficult to accomplish for -the reason that the paralleling series of loops to be topped on the relatively movable topping point sections are of different types, that is, the

, series of loops to be topped on one topping point section are needle wale loops, whereas the series of loops to be topped on the other topping point section are sinker wale loops.

While needle wale loops and sinker wale loops differ in size, needle wale loops being somewhat larger than sinker wale loops, their main differentiating characteristic is that they extend in opposite directions. In other words, while the fabric is in normal topping position, the

needle wale loops extend upwardly and the sinker wale loops extend downwardly. No serious problem exists in placing the needle wale loops in engagement with their topping points, not only because they are somewhat larger than the sinker wale loops, but because they extend in an upward direction so that such needle wale loops may be hung onto their associated top ping points, thus becoming readily and positively engaged therewith. However, such is not the case with the sinker wale loops which, due to the fact that they normally extend in a downward direction, cannot be hung onto their associated topping points, making it extremely difficult to properly engage the sinker wale loops with their respective topping points. The'inven'tion, therefore, while not attempting to change the size of the sinker wale loops, as related to the needle wale loops, which would destroy the characteristic texture-of the fabric,

contemplates the provision of a process or method of topping, whereby the placing of the sinker wale loops as well as the needle wale loops in engagement with their respective topping points is equally facilitated, the broad object of the invention being to top each of the series of loops onto their points in the best possible topping position, which is with the loops that are to be topped extending upwardly.

Three possible modes of procedure, each capable of accomplishing the object above noted, are herein shown and while it is necessary, in practicing the present invention, to somewhat modify the construction of the topping stand shown and described in the co-pending application aforesaid, the general principles as regards the mechanical construction of the topping stand can remain the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows an enlarged portion of the fabric of a heelless combination leg and foot stocking blank at the juncture of the last high heel course and first foot course with the course of yarn to be severed or otherwise removed shown in light lines. It is to be noted that while only one removable course is shown, the process is not limited thereto, as more than one such removable course will not in any way interfere with carrying out the process or method.

Figures 2, 3, and 4 respectively show, diagrammatically, the three possible modes of procedure referred to as being capable of accomplishing the desired results. It is to be noted that the mechanical parts shown in Figures 2,

3, and 4 are intended to illustrate in a diagrammatic manner the parts of the topping stand shown in co-pending application aforesaid, the topping point sections 2a being the fixed topping pcint sections, and the topping point sections 3a being the hinged topping point sections swingable on an arc of substantially 180.

As clearly represented in Figure 1, the last course of one :portion of the combination leg and foot stocking blank, which course is usually the last high heel course, had a series of needle wale loops 2 extending upwardly, while the first course of another portion of said blank, which course is usually the first course of the sole portion, has a series of sinker wale loops 3 extending downwardly. The invention proposes to top both of the mentioned series of loops ontotheir respective topping point sections with the fabric in such a position that the impaling of the loops 3, as well as the loops 2, will occur while they are extending upwardly, therefore requiring the fabric to be turned through an arc of movement of substantially 180 between the,

topping of each series of loops 2 and 3.

This 180 turn of the fabric has nothing to do with the subsequent 180 arc of movement of the fabric portions after the severing course (shown in light lines in Figure 1) between the two series of loops 2 and 3 has been removed, since the turning of the fabric in the first instance is not for the purpose of bringing the series of loops 2 and the series of loops 3 in a straight line, as is the purpose of the 180 arc of movement referred to, and to which reference is made in said co-pending application which, however, does not refer to turning the fabric through an arc of 180 for the purpose of topping each of two series of loops when said loops are in an upwardly extending position.

Figure 2 illustrates a process or method in which the fabric is folded so that the last high heel course and the first sole course are inwardly disposed when viewed as shown, the swingable sections 351. of the topping bar prior to the toping operation having been positioned so that all the topping points are in a straight line, as indicated in said Figure 2.

' Whichever course has its series of loops 2 or 3 upwardly disposed is first impaled on the topping points of its respective swingable section 3a. If the sections to, are then swung into the direction of the arrows A, the fabric parts I will be turned with the sections 3a through a 180 arc of movement, the swingable sections 3a then assuming a paralleling position with respect to the topping point sections 211.

The first series of loops to be topped onto the swingable topping point sections when said loops were in an upwardly extending position will extend downwardly when said swingable sections are turned, as described above. Likewise, the second series of loops which were not topped and extended downwardly during the topping of the first series of loops will extend upwardly after the turning of the fabric so that said second series of loops may then be readily impaled onto the points of the fixed sections 211. Thereafter, the joining or severing course or courses are removed and the swingable sections 30. are again swung in the position shown in Figure 2, thereby positioning the series of loops 2 and the series of loops 3 in a straight line so that they may be placed on a straight transfer point bar and transferred to a heeling machine, as described in said co-pending application.

Some difficulties may be experienced in topping the first series of loops according to the procedure shown in Figure 2 due to the body of the fabric lying on top of the points. These possible difriculties may be obviated by following the procedure illustrated in Figures 3 or 4.

Figure 3 shows an arrangement in which the entire topping bar support 8 is mounted to oscillate about a pivot 25, the axis line of which extends parallel to and lengthwise of the individual topping points. With this arrangement, it is proposed to top one of the courses with its series of loops 2 or 3 extending upwardly onto the corresponding topping point sections, then to turn all of the topping points around the being donethereafter in the manner disclosed in the co-pending application hereinbefore referred to.

Figure 4 shows another arrangement for turning the entire fabric through a arc of movement and, in this latter arrangement, the pivot for the topping bar support 8 is arranged vertically so that the turning is on the vertical line CC, the topping of the fabric being done in the same manner as stated inconnection with the explanation of the arrangement shown in Figure 3. Figures 3 or 4, there may be provided means'to lock the topping bar support 8 in either of its positions, for instance, the spring pressed plunger pin 21 arranged upon a supporting base 26 as shown in Figure 4.

While specific constructions have diagrammatically been shown herein, for turning the In either arrangement illustrated in fabric through a 180 arc of movement in order to position the series of loops .2 and 3' in the same direction prior to the topping thereof, it is to be understood that other ways maybe devised to accomplish the same result and that we do not wish to be limited to any specific arrangement.

1. The method of topping series of needle wale. loops and sinker wale loops of paralleling courses onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections, comprising: impalingone of said series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in one direction, and then impaling the other series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in the same direction. I

2. In a method'for preparing a knitted heelless combination leg and foot stocking blank to be transferred to a heeling machine for the" knitting of heel tabs onto said blank: topping a series of needle wale loops of one of'two paralleling courses in said blank onto a topping point section with said needle wale loops extending in one direction, and then topping a series of sinker wale loops of the other of said courses onto another topping point section with said sinker wale loops extending in the same direction.

3. In a method for preparing a heelless flat knitted combination leg and foot stocking blank. to be transferred to a heeling machine-forthe knitting of heel tabs into said blank: topping onto one of two paralleling topping point sections a series of needle wale loops of one of two paralleling courses joined by a severing course or courses in said blank with said needle wale loops extending in one direction, and then topping a series of sinker wale loops of the other of said courses onto the remaining topping point section with said sinker wale loops extending in the same direction that the previously topped needlewale loops extended while being topped and thereafter removing the joining course or courses between the two topped series of loops and swinging one of the series and its topping point section in relation to the other series and its topping point section through an arc of'movement approxi mating 180, thereby positioning the topping point sections and the topped loops of bothseries in a straight line.

4. The method of toppingseries of needle waleloops and sinker Wale loops of paralleling courses onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections comprising: impaling one of said series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in one direction, and then impaling the other series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in the same direction by turning the blank and topping point sections after impaling said first mentionedseries of loops through an arc of movement approximating 180. v

5. The method of topping series of needle wale loops and sinker wale loops of paralleling courses onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections comprising: impaling one of said series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in one direction, and then impaling the other series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing in the same direction'by turning in a vertical plane the blank and topping point sections after impaling said first mentioned series of loops through'an arc of movementapproximating 180.

6. The method of topping series of needle Wale loops and sinker Wale loops .Of paralleling courses onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections comprising: impaling one of said series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing inone direction, and then impaling the other series on its corresponding topping point section with the loops pointing'in the same direction by turning in a horizontal plane the blank and topping point-sections after impaling said first mentioned series of loops through an arc of movement approximating 180.

'7. Ina method for preparing a knitted heelless combination leg and foot stocking blank to be transferred to a'heeling machine for the knitting of heel tabs onto said blank: topping a series of needle wale'loops of, one of two paralleling courses in said blank onto a topping point section with said needle Wale loops extending in one direction, then topping a series of sinker Wale loops of the other of said coursesonto another topping point section with said sinker Wale loops extending in the same direction that the previously topped needle Wale loops extended While being topped, and thereafter swinging one of the series and its topping point section in relation to the other series and its topping point section through an arc of movement approximating thereby positioning the topping point sections and topped loops of bothseries in a straight line.

8. The method of topping a heelless combination leg and foot blank having'high heel portions and sole portions onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections comprising: topping the marginal series of loops of said high heel portions onto the corresponding topping point sections, turning the blank and topping point sections on an arc of movement of approximately 180, and then topping the marginal series of loops of said sole portions onto the corresponding topping point sections.

9. The method of topping a heelless combination leg and foot blank having high heel portions and sole portions onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections comprising: topping the marginal series of loops of each high heel portion onto the corresponding topping point section, turning the blank and topping point sections on an arc of movement of approximately 180 to place the marginal series of loops of each sole portion in a position to extend in the same direction that the previously topped loops of each 1 high heel section extended while being topped,

paralleling topping point sections a heelless combination leg and foot blank having high heel portions and sole portions and joining courses between said high heel portions and sole portions comprising: topping the marginal series of loops of each high heel portion onto the corresponding topping point section, turning the blank and topping point sections on an arc of movement of approximately 180", then topping the marginal series of loops of each sole portion onto the corresponding topping section, and thereafter removing the joining courses between said high heel portions and sole portions and swinging certain of said portions and their topping point sections through arcs of movement approximating 180 relatively to the remaining out said portions and their topping point sections, thereby positioning said topping point sections and topped loops of both series in a straight line.

11. A method of topping onto corresponding paralleling topping point sections a heelless combination leg and foot blank having high heel portions and sole portions and joining courses between said high heel portions and sole portions comprising: topping the marginal series of loops of each high heel portion onto the corresponding topping point section, turning the blank and topping point sections on an arc of movement of approximately 180, then topping the marginal series of loops of each sole portion onto the corresponding topping section, and swinging said sole portions and corresponding topping point sections through arcs of movement approximat-' ing 180 relatively to the high heel portions and corresponding topping sections, thereby positioning the topping point sections and topped loops of both series in a straight line.

G. HERBERT DIETRICH. ARNOLD VERBEEK. ERICH EISSNER. 

